The Player

Brielle

10:32 PM

"Do it again!" I yelled, trying to be heard over the blasting music. Christopher and I had been practicing for about an hour and a half, and we had gotten absolutely nowhere. Today was supposed to be easy for him, since I was just teaching the fundamentals. However, with how much he was currently struggling, I was hopeless that he would be able to do an entire routine for the showcase in just two months.

"Honestly, how many times were you hit in the head? I've been teaching you the five basic positions for over an hour and you still don't remember them!"

Stepping away from Christopher, who was currently trying, and failing, at the ballet barre, I swigged from my water bottle. All the yelling that I was doing was breaking me into a sweat.

"I don't think that yelling at me counts as teaching," He complained back, groaning in the process. He stepped away from the barre, seemingly giving up, and sat down with his back against the mirrored wall. He ran his hands through his hair, obviously frustrated with himself.

Seeing him in this state, distraught and beaten down, couldn't help but make me smile. Just a few days earlier, he was THE Christopher Russel, untouchable and perfect in everyone's eyes. But now he sat in front of me, worn down after only an hour of dance taught by yours truly.

"Why are you smiling?" He asked, in between pants. His eyes were squinted in an attempt to keep the sweat out of them, and his face was actually contorted in pain from how bad his body already ached.

And this is our star quarterback? I'm surprised we've ever won.

"Nothing," I said, a smile on my lips. "I just think it's funny that Vista Valley's star athlete can't handle a little ballet."

He scoffed, "Oh and you think that doing football is easy?" Now laughing he continued. "I bet you five bucks that you couldn't even make a field goal if you tried twenty times."

"Oh please," I rolled my eyes. "I could do it on my first." I don't know why I lied, because I knew that I couldn't make it if I had a hundred tries, but I just wanted to wipe that smug little smirk off his face.

"Prove it." He said. "Let's go right now."

Crap.

"No, we can't because..." I scrambled for an excuse, my face now turning red. "...we have to finish practicing." I let out a deep breath, thanking god that I came up with a reason.

"If I take a break I'll be more focused." He now began to stand up, waiting for me to do the same.

"The football field is locked!"

"I have a way in."

"I don't have any gym shoes!" I said, scrambling for anything at this point.

"They're right over there..." He said, confused, pointing to my Nikes in the corner.

Traitors.

you're scared that you're going to lose, aren't you? Are you afraid of a little bet?" He mocked,

no choice at this point, I gave up trying to prevent

to save you the embarrassment of losing." I got up, switching out my ballet flats for my gym shoes.

~~~

thought, I don't

front of the field goal, which looked much bigger on the field than it did in the bleachers.

to breaking the rules, but I tried to be a good student. I couldn't afford to

do this field goal that you

little off so I

forfeiting then I can take my five dollars now." He stuck his hand out, waiting for me to give

his hand away from me. "You

field goal, praying that by some miracle I would be able to make it. I tried to bring back all the memories of football I had, which was just a few super bowls and high school matches. Darn my hate

breath, I prepared to make a complete

said, trying to line my foot up with the

began to close as I brought my leg back, preparing to kick.

"Thre- "

lights in the stadium flashed on,

The culprit of the voice was soon identified as a security guard came running towards us. I looked back at Christopher,

at me. My mind screamed at me to run, but I was paralyzed, stuck watching

Move Brielle!

Move!

I had still yet to move. Groaning he yelled, "For the love of God!" and turned around, running back towards me. Without saying a word,

in the world is

parking lot, the security guard was still behind us, but was falling further and further behind. Christopher's ability to run that fast while carrying me was shocking to say the least. He stopped at a car, which I assumed to be his, before putting me down by

snapped out of my trance, before jumping into the passenger seat next to him. Before I could even close my door, he pulled out of the parking lot,

the heck was that!" He yelled, driving away from the school. "You just stood there like a

on my face. "I just had

catch is a delayed reaction, you looked like you were attacked by Frozone from the Incredibles." Throwing my head back, I laughed so hard that my stomach began to hurt. He took his

you have when you're not a goodie-too-shoes all the

I cried, punching him in the arm. "I live life on

really," he smirked. "Prove

roof. I stepped onto his armrest before sticking my body through the opening, loving the feeling of the cold, night wind nipping

flashing me." Christopher said, his arrogance returning once more. "But that works